Loom weft positioner

ABSTRACT

A weft positioner for looms of the shuttleless type for locating the weft forwardly of those reed dents disposed adjacent to the side of the warp where insertion of weft is initiated to prevent contact with these dents and wear thereto by the weft during its beat-up by the reed.

United States Patent 1 1111 3,911,967

Gainey Oct. 14, 1975 LOOM WEFT POSITIONER 3,431,951 3/1969 Thibault et a1 139/122 R 3,705,607 12/1972 [75] Inventor. Barry L. Gainey, Hartsvllle, S.C. 3,736,963 6/19-73 [73} Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation, 317441533 7/1973 Pittsburgh, Pa. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22 Filed; Jun 11, 1974 46-23588 7/1971 Japan 139/122 H [21] Appl' 478,290 Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi 52 us. c1. 139/116; 139/122 R ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. D030 47/34 A weft positioner for looms of the shuttleless type for [58] Field of Search 139/116, 122 R, 122 W, locating the weft forwardly of those reed dents dis- 139/122 H, 127 R, 127 P, 194, 123, 260 posed adjacent to the side of the warp where insertion of weft is initiated to prevent contact with these dents [56] References Cited and wear thereto by the weft during its beat-up by the UNITED STATES PATENTS reed- 3,24l,576 3/1966 Dewas 139/122 W 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 3,911,967

tooM WEFT POSITIONER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to a weft yarn positioner for looms and, more particularly, to such a device for looms of the shuttleless type such as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,604,123.

In shuttleless looms to which the present invention is applicable, weft yarn is drawn from a stationary source located externally of the inserting means of the loom and is presented to carrier members reciprocated into and from sheds formed by warp threads. The weft yarn as it is drawn from its source is controlled by a mechanism which causes it to be inserted into separate sheds of warp threads in connected pairs of individual picks that are frequently termed hairpins". Generally this mechanism functions as shown and described in US. Pat. No. 2,604,124.

From its source of supply the weft passes through a tensioning member then through an eyelet in a socalled yarn positioner and guide lever and then to a combined device having means for cutting, holding and then releasing the weft during the insertion of the first of a pair of interconnected picks. After this release, the yarn positioner and guide lever is effective in moving the weft laterally to a position where it is received into a so-called second pick positioner, which also forms a part of the above device, and it is then properly located for inserting the second of a pair of interconnected picks. These combined devices are well known to those familiar with shuttleless looms to which the invention is applicable and for a more detailed description of such a device attention is directed to US. Pat. Nos. 2,921 ,6" and 3,037,53].

Certain type of weft yarn, such for example as polyester, possess abrasive qualities that are responsible for serious conditions of wear to a plurality of dents in a loom reed and a source of many weaving mill complaints for a means which will alleviate this condition.

As the carrier members are being withdrawn after insertion of the first half of an interconnected pick or hairpin, the upper and lower sheets of warp yarns com mence their shedding movement as the lay and reed carried thereby start forwardly and which are timed to beat the pick into the fell of the fabric after complete withdrawal of the carriers from the shed, all of which is well known to those conversant in the art. The carrier which receives the inserted pick and which extends it through the shed releases the end of the pick slightly spaced from and forwardly of the reed. During this time and adjacent the opposite side of the warp where insertion of the pick was initiated the aforementioned yarn positioner and guide lever has shifted the weft yarn to the well known second pick positioner to be in readiness for the subsequent insertion of the second half of the hairpin. I

The combination of the lay and reed commencing their forwardly movement and the shift of the weft to the second pick positioner causes the weft extending from the closing shed to contact the end of the reed and to extend angularly rearward to said second pick positioner.

With the weft yarn in this position during the initial beat-up movement of the lay and reed causes frictional engagement of the weft with a plurality of the reed dents, within the shed and adjacent to that side of the warp at which insertion of the pick was initiated. During this frictional engagement of the weft with these reed dents, contact with the weft by the changing warp sheets creates a slight rolling action to weft as it is pushed toward the fell and in combination therewith a slight longitudinal movement of the weft caused by stretching during this movement.

Repeated frictional contact of the weft with each successive beat-up occurs at the same location on the reed dents and is responsible for the wearing of a groove in the face of the reed formed by the dents located in this particular area of said reed. This wear problem is far more pronounced when weft yarn such as polyester is utilized because of the abrasive qualities it possesses. The wearing of a groove in the reed dents as described produces sharp edges at each of the affected dents and as is readily understandable creates a condition which is detrimental to both the weft and warp yarns.

The present invention provides a means for preventing wear to the dents in this particular area of the reed by a weft positioner member carried by the lay which is effective in positioning the weft forwardly of the dents in the aforementioned area of the reed during each beat-up movement of the latter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The loom weft positioner comprising the invention includes a support member carried by the lay in contiguous relation with the face of the reed and in close proximity with the side of the warp where picks of weft yarn are inserted in pairs of interconnected picks. This support member includes a pair of spaced and forwardly directed ear elements that are adapted to support a weft engaging sleeve member therebetween. This sleeve member is vertically disposed and during the beat-up movement of the reed and lay is effective in maintaining clearance between the weft and those dents of the reed adjacent to that side of the warp at which each pick is inserted.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a loom weft positioner having a minimum number of parts, that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and which is readily adapted for assembly on existing shuttleless looms.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a loom weft positioner for preventing wear to those dents of a reed adjacent the weft inserting side of the warp by locating the weft in spaced relation thereto during beat-up of the weft.

These and other objects of the invention will become more fully apparent by reference to the appended claims and as the following detailed description proceeds in reference to the figures of drawing wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the shuttleless loom showing the weft positioner according to the invention applied thereto,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view in exploded form of the weft positioner shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a top view of the weft positioner in FIG. 1 showing the position it causes the weft to assume during the beat-up movement of the reed and lay.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENT As the general construction and operation of a shuttless loom to which the invention is applicable is known and familiar to those conversant in the weaving art and as the invention is entirely concerned with a weft positioner for use with such looms, it is only considered necessary here to illustrate and describe that portion of the loom directly concerned with a preferred form of the invention.

Now referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing a portion of a shuttleless loom is illustrated including a lay beam having a raceway 11 and a bottom shed support 12 fixed thereon. A reed 13 is fixed to the rearward side of the lay beam for movement therewith and includes the usual dents 14 through which warp yarns 15 are adapted to extend.

The fabric formed by the loom is identified by numeral 16 which is held at a desired width by the usual temples 17 disposed at each side of the fabric (one only shown).

In FIG. 1 the well known weft yarn control apparatus is identified generally by numeral 18 and as is familiar to those conversant in the art functions to shift the weft yarn 19 between positions for effecting its insertion into sheds of warp threads in pairs of interconnected picks or so-called hairpins.

The weft positioner according to the invention is identified generally by numeral 20 and includes an elongated support member or body portion 21 with a pair of spaced and aligned apertured ear elements 22 and 23 extending from one face thereof. The apertures in ear elements 22 and 23 being in alignment, one with the other, are identified in FIG. 2 by numerals 24 and 25 respectively and are adapted to receive therein the ends of a pin 26 which is adapted to support a sleeve 27 fabricated from a wear resistant material between said ear elements.

As shown in FIG. 2 the body portion 21 includes a lower extension defining a tab element 28 which serves to position the assembly for movement with the lay beam and reed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The body portion 21 of the weft positioner 20 is quickly and easily assembled in the position shown in FIG. 1 by simply loosening the means (not shown) for attaching the reed to the lay and then slipping the tab element 28 between the lower portion of the reed and the bottom shed support. The reed when retightened, clamps the tab element 28 and positions the weft positioner in contiguous relation with the forward face of the reed.

To summarize the operation, the weft positioner 20 when assembled for movement with the lay is located as close to the side of the warp as possible or in other words so that it will just clear the temple 17 when the lay beam 11 is at front center or beat-up position.

After the insertion of the first of a pair of interconnected picks the weft 19, as shown in FIG. 1, extends from the shed across the forward surface of sleeve 27 to the end of the reed with which it makes contact and thence angularly rearward to the weft yarn control apparatus 18. In this position the weft 19 has been shifted to the second pick positioner of the yarn control apparatus l8 and the lay beam and reed are commencing their forward movement to beat the pick into the fell of the fabric. During this movement and as shown in FIG. 3 sleeve member 27 is effective in holding the weft forwardly of the reed dents 14 in the area of warp threads where insertion of the pick was initiated and has corrected the serious condition of the weft wearing a groove in the dents located in this particular area.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment. it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loom of the shuttleless type wherein weft from a stationary source is inserted into sheds of warp threads from a location outside of the shed, the combination comprising:

a. a lay beam having a shed support fixed thereon;

b. a source of motive power operatively connected to said lay beam to effect oscillating movement thereof;

c. a reed including a plurality of reed dents mounted on said lay beam to effect beat-up of newly inserted weft yarn; and

d. means carried by said lay beam at a location adja' cent the side of warp where insertion of weft is initiated and outside of the warp shed, said means contacting the weft during beat-up thereof for holding it out of contact with the reed dents located only in the vicinity where said means is carried on said lay beam.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said means for holding the weft out of contact with the reed dents includes an elongated support member having a pair of spaced and aligned apertured ear elements extending therefrom with means for supporting a weft engaging sleeve member between said ear elements.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein said supporting means includes an elongated pin member extending through said sleeve member with the ends thereof being assembled in said apertured ear elements.

4. The structure according to claim 2 wherein said elongated support member includes a depending tab for fixedly positioning said support member through clamping engagement thereof between and by said shed support and reed.

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1. In a loom of the shuttleless type wherein weft from a stationary source is inserted into sheds of warp threads from a location outside of the shed, the combination comprising: a. a lay beam having a shed support fixed thereon; b. a source of motive power operatively connected to said lay beam to effect oscillating movement thereof; c. a reed including a plurality of reed dents mounted on said lay beam to effect beat-up of newly inserted weft yarn; and d. means carried by said lay beam at a location adjacent the side of warp where insertion of weft is initiated and outside of the warp shed, said means contacting the weft during beat-up thereof for holding it out of contact with the reed dents located only in the vicinity where said means is carriEd on said lay beam.
 2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said means for holding the weft out of contact with the reed dents includes an elongated support member having a pair of spaced and aligned apertured ear elements extending therefrom with means for supporting a weft engaging sleeve member between said ear elements.
 3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein said supporting means includes an elongated pin member extending through said sleeve member with the ends thereof being assembled in said apertured ear elements.
 4. The structure according to claim 2 wherein said elongated support member includes a depending tab for fixedly positioning said support member through clamping engagement thereof between and by said shed support and reed. 